Keeping West Kelowna's downtown vibrant

Bylaw Compliance Officers will operate out of Westbank Lions Community Centre, starting today, in an effort to keep West Kelowna's downtown a vibrant and welcoming place to live, do business and access services and amenities.

"We've heard our community's concerns and council and I believe that this latest effort will go a long way to addressing many of the social and public safety issues that West Kelowna citizens have raised," said Mayor Gord Milsom.

"This is just the latest step - our efforts continue and more solutions are on the way," Milsom added.

In order to move the Bylaw Compliance Office into Westbank Lions Community Centre, the City first assisted the Red Cross Health Equipment Loan Program find a new location. Once the Red Cross relocated four weeks ago, to their new building at Suite 4 - 2411 Drought Road, renovations began to convert the space into offices.

The City's decision to move Bylaw Officers into the community centre was reinforced after hearing from residents and businesses during a town hall meeting on June 27.

"Our efforts must be a combination of enforcement and compassion," said Milsom. "Like many communities across Canada, we are coping with complex social issues, not just homelessness, and we must ensure that public safety in downtown West Kelowna is paramount. At the same time however, we must continue to work with other governments and agencies to establish more supportive services and social housing to help people who are experiencing homelessness."

On September 13, at approximately 1:00 a.m., RCMP received a complaint of a male jumping in a front of a vehicle along Westside Road near Bear Creek Provincial Park and tried to hit the vehicle with an object.